MAKUAL OF CATTLE-FEEBIKG. 429 



When calculated to a uniform water- content, the propor- 

 tions of the several ingredients of the milk are practically 

 the same, whatever the fodder. The same result has been 

 obtained in many other experiments, in which the varia- 

 tions of the fodder were very great. The quantity of the 

 milk and the percentage of dry matter varied, but the rela- 

 Udo fjfiiantities of the several solid ingj-edients remained 

 very constant. 



One exception to this, however, appears in the above 

 experiments. In periods 2 and 5, in which palm-nut meal 

 was fed, the milk of Cow I. showed a noticeably increased 

 percentage of fat, while that of Cow 11. was not affected in 

 this way. That this effect was not caused by the greater 

 supply of protein is shown by the facts that it was pro- 

 duced in only one animal, and thaf it did not show itself in 

 period 3, in which the fodder was even richer in protein 

 than in period 2. That it was not due to the fat of the 

 palm-nut meal follows from the fact that, in other experi- 

 ments, the addition of fat to the fodder has had no such 

 effect. 



It would thus appear that the palm-nut meal exerted a 

 specific effect on the milk production of this cow. In later 

 experiments, the effect on the same animal was confirmed, 

 and another cow, of a different breed, was found in which 

 the same result was produced. 



These two results are the only ones of the kind yet 

 reached, all other experiments having failed to show any 

 permanent change in the composition of the dry matter of 

 the milk as a result of change of feeding. They are too 

 few to justify any general conclusion, but it would be 

 highly interesting to follow up the hint thus given, and 

 to test various fodders and different animals in this re- 

 spect. 



